I am an epileptic. It’s official. You may remember I had a grand mal seizure last March 30th and have been on medicine since. As a result, we’ve found the sufficient dosage, which thankfully isn’t much, to prevent further seizures. That’s God’s mercy and soon I may be able to drive again.

At my latest neurology appointment, I finally asked the doctor, “What exactly is my diagnosis? What should I tell people is the cause?” So far the term “seizure disorder” had been mentioned but people had asked me about epilepsy.

The doctor replied, “You have a seizure disorder.”


I asked, “What’s the difference between that and epilepsy?”

“Nothing, it’s just a matter of terms. The term epilepsy was thought of in a certain negative way so now it’s been re-named.”

I thought that was funny but I left the doctor’s office ruminating over my “label.” As I rolled that thought around in my mind, I couldn’t quite get in touch with the reality of it. I’m epileptic. (Tweet that!) I’m an epileptic. I have epilepsy. 

I didn’t feel any shame about it. But it was hard to really absorb, to believe about myself, because somehow epilepsy is the disease other people have. I’d never thought it was something I’d ever have! But it’s true whether I call it a seizure disorder or epilepsy.

As I pondered this, I thought of how sometimes as Christians we can’t believe the “labels” God gives us. They just don’t seem true, especially if we had always thought the opposite of ourselves.

Of course, the difference is epilepsy is undesirable–it’s a disease. On the other hand, what God gives us are very, very desirable. 
For instance, He calls you:

• peaceful in the midst of a troubled world (John 14:27)
  

   

• justified through faith (Romans 5:1)
• an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
• blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
• holy and blameless in God’s sight (Ephesians 1:4)
• adopted as His child (Ephesians 1:5)
• forgiven of all my sins–past, present, and future (Ephesians 1:7)
• called for his purposes (Ephesians 2:10)
• chosen (Colossians 3:12)
• perfect (Colossians 2:10)